‘Don’t be a hater, yo’
|Published
Riaan Cruywagen is seen as a man with no personality. In fact, it seems as if he could be an alien sent to Earth to do nothing but read the Afrikaans news in suits straight from the ’80s. This is why, conspiracy theorists suggest, he’s never aged and his classic side-parting hairdo has never changed.
That’s why a scene of him in a jacuzzi surrounded by a bevy of busty babes and drinking a cocktail would seem unthinkably impossible.
But, believe it or not, this is the closing shot to the promotional adverts for the annual Loerie Awards. And, predictably, given the enigma Cruywagen is in South African society, the video has gone viral.
Within the first two days, the Bad Ads video had more than 15 000 views and the Champaign video close to 4 500 hits. It’s a social network phenomenon.
It starts with Cruywagen seemingly at his desk giving a news report. His face is serious. Slowly, as he speaks, the cameras pan out to reveal the full scene.
“Hi, I’m Riaan Cruywagen and, if you’re like me, you hate bad advertising, like those ones that make you leave the room or stare into the distance,” he says while he, you guessed it, stares into the distance.
“But if you want to watch really great advertisements, watch the 33rd annual Loerie Awards on Selimathunzi, Wednesday the 21st September at 6.30, for adverts that make you go ‘Wow!’, ‘OMG!’ and LOL!’
“So from me, Riaan Cruywagen, don’t be a hater, yo.”
It’s the tagline at the end, though, that for me is so genius. As the advert ends, Cruywagen, says: “I’m in a jacuzzi.” It makes me OMG and LOL repeatedly.
To find the YouTube ad, search for “Riaan Cruywagen” or “Loerie Awards”. Make sure you watch both of them. - Sunday Tribune